Susie An

Chicago

Editor at WBEZ-FM (Chicago, IL)

I'm with WBEZ, but tweets are of my own mind.

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Articles

Sanctuary and restriction: A look at Chicago mayors’ wildly different approaches to immigrants

Mar 26, 2025 | wbez.org | Susie An

Since President Donald Trump took office in January, Chicago has been thrust into the immigration debate as “ground zero” for deportations, in part due to its Welcoming City ordinance. Chicago is no stranger to this spotlight. In fact, its stance on newcomers has repeatedly forecasted national sentiment, often led by the city’s mayor. During cultural shifts or an economic downturn in the city, it was always convenient to blame the latest group of arrivals.
Sanctuary and restriction: A look at Chicago mayors’ wildly different approaches to immigrants

Mar 26, 2025 | ourcommunitynow.com | Susie An

Share Since President Donald Trump took office in January, Chicago has been thrust into the immigration debate as “ground zero” for deportations, in part due to its Welcoming City ordinance. Chicago is no stranger to this spotlight. In fact, its stance on newcomers has repeatedly forecasted national sentiment, often led by the city’s mayor. During cultural shifts or an economic downturn in the city, it was always convenient to blame the latest group of arrivals.
The art of creating Chicago’s traffic reports

Jan 22, 2025 | wbez.org | Andrew Meriwether |Erin Allen |Alex Degman |Susie An

Editor’s note: This story originally published in Jan. 18, 2024. The accompanying podcast episode answers several traffic-related questions, including how city traffic lights are timed and why construction on I-90/I-94 happens the way it does. Chances are if you’ve heard a Chicago-area traffic report on the radio in the past twenty years, Mike Pries helped put it together. He works for Total Traffic and Weather Network, which manages a traffic database used by nearly every local news outlet.
How a fire-breathing dragon came to Illinois

Jan 15, 2025 | wbez.org | Alex Degman |Susie An |Erin Allen |Mary Hall

World’s largest ball of twine; the state’s biggest rocking chair; “mystery spots.” For many drivers, roadside attractions are a much-welcome stop on an otherwise long and monotonous road trip. But they are so much more for Violet Fox, who was born in Decatur and has an extra appreciation for Illinois’ lesser-known landmarks. “I love getting out and seeing all of these really fun, unique, beautiful, exciting, interesting, kitschy things that we have around the state,” Fox said.
Why is the Tom and Jerry a Midwest holiday tradition?

Dec 11, 2024 | wbez.org | Andrew Meriwether |Erin Allen |Susie An |Jesse Dukes

Entering Miller’s Pub, it’s easy to see why it’s a holiday gathering spot. The restaurant is warmly lit with vintage stained glass fixtures, and dark woods combine with classic Christmas decor for a cozy ambiance. Among those who gather is special education teacher Jason Munchoff, who has met his friends here for an annual holiday celebration since 2007. Essential to their festivities is drinking a Tom and Jerry. “I’m really into traditions, especially around the holidays,” he said.
The lost year of Chicago’s Christkindlmarket

Dec 4, 2024 | wbez.org | Erin Allen |Susie An |Jesse Dukes |Robert Loerzel

Bust out the handmade goods, beer steins and bratwurst. It’s Chicago’s annual holiday tradition, the Christkindlmarket in Daley Plaza. The market started in 1996, and it may feel much older because it’s inspired by the original Christkindlmarket in Nuremberg, Germany. It features German food and beverages and the market’s signature mugs. Curious City listener Dahiana Barasz collects the mugs to use at her annual Yuletide party.
What happens to birds stuck inside the airport?

Nov 27, 2024 | wbez.org | Erin Allen |Susie An |Jesse Dukes |Robert Loerzel

The holiday travel season is in full swing, with nearly 80 million people expected to travel across the country over Thanksgiving, according to AAA. A record-breaking 5.8 million of those travelers are expected to fly. That’s likely to mean long lines at airport security checkpoints, giving passengers plenty of time to … bird-watch. “I was looking around and seeing so many different types of birds just flying around and landing right by us,” said Nicole Burmingham.
Bodegas, ‘The Bear’ and why family business is the ‘backbone of the economy’

Nov 14, 2024 | wbez.org | Erin Allen |Susie An

When you think of a family business, one of two images probably comes to mind: either the mom and pop shop around the corner or the dysfunctional family from “Succession.” But actually, “it could be anything,” says Jennifer M. Pendergast, family enterprise consultant and professor at Northwestern University’s Kellogg School of Management. Last episode, we looked into the oldest family business in Chicago. And this got us thinking about family enterprise in general.
Chicago indicator species are trying to tell us something

Nov 7, 2024 | wbez.org | Erin Allen |Susie An

A Curious City listener wanted to know about the decline of frogs in our area. We looked into what’s been happening with these species over the last couple decades in Chicago. It turns out, frogs are some of the animals we call “indicator species.” How well or poorly they’re doing in their habitat can tell us about the health of our own. And they’re not the only ones; there are numerous plants and animals that serve as nature’s alarm system, so to speak.
Where have all the frogs gone?

Nov 6, 2024 | wbez.org | Lauren Holt |Erin Allen |Susie An |Marie Mendoza

Laura Cripe grew up hiking in LaBagh Woods on Chicago’s North Side. After a storm, she enjoyed walking along the Chicago River to catch snakes and frogs. “I would capture them … much to my mother’s non-delight,” she recalled. Cripe still enjoys spending time in nature, but she’s noticed there aren’t as many frogs around. The last frog she saw in the city was nearly 20 years ago. “I saw one tiny little frog. I don’t know if it was a little spring peeper [frog], and that was in Bucktown,” Cripe said.